Happy birthday to Philippa Foot, who would have turned 100 today.

Whether they know it or not, her work is one of the first philosophical problems many people encounter, and I think we don't appreciate her enough for how many people she's probably got interested in philosophy.

Some things you may not have known about Professor Foot:

Foot had no formal education as a child. She was educated by governesses who she thought were completely useless. She eventually made her way to Oxford by working with an entrance coach.

Foot and Iris Murdoch were flatmates in Oxford. Murdoch, Elizabeth Anscombe (who reportedly convinced her that noncognitivism was false), Mary Midgley, and Foot were all at Somerville College in Oxford at the same time.

Foot's "trolley problem" appears in a text called “The Problem of Abortion and the Doctrine of Double Effect” (1967). Foot's handling of the problem is quite a bit more interesting than is usually given credit in intro classes, you can check it out here: https://philpapers.org/archive/footpo-2.pdf

Foot was not involved in founding Oxfam (contrary to popular belief), although was involved with the organisation throughout her life.

Foot’s grandfather was U.S. president Grover Cleveland.

Apologies that this thread is so heavy on personal details (that I just happen to know) and not her philosophical work, which I'm ashamed to say I don't know as well I should!